here’s what you’re looking for: seth fineberg

resources & vendors

where intuit is at with accountants

why vendors need to start with “why.”

ted callahan, intuit director of accountant partnership and strategy: “an industry transforming itself.”

 

by seth fineberg

unless you’ve been under a rock in the accounting profession, you know that intuit—makers of some of the most widely used tax and accounting products on the u.s. market—has caused quite a stir within the profession in recent weeks, making some wonder where they stand with the software giant.

more: history could help accountant-vendor relations | accounting needs a ‘rethink’ not a ‘rebrand’ | big change comes with deep reflection | three ways to raise the bar for your business
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for quick review, a growing number of accountants that use of the company’s quickbooks online product have had to consider how to pass on rising costs of using the product, on top of where they stand with the company and its seemingly competing quickbooks live service. then, more recently, intuit began running national tv ads promoting its turbotax live service with the message of “break up with your accountant.”

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special

history could help accountant-vendor relations

older woman showing young woman something on office computer screen

think about where you want your business to be.

by seth fineberg

the phrase “history is the greatest teacher” can be applied in many ways, but to me it does not ring truer than when thinking of the current state of accountant-vendor relations. in short, it’s not all that good.

more: accounting needs a ‘rethink’ not a ‘rebrand’ | big change comes with deep reflection | three ways to raise the bar for your business
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the accounting profession has evolved to the point to where there is a tool for every task, and the choices have never been more plentiful or the process of selecting one more challenging. at the same time, having overseen this profession as long as i have, the thing that’s been clear is the risks of tying so much of what you do to one vendor.
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outlook & analysis

partners: your middle managers are getting squeezed

staff just don’t feel comfortable asking for things that help their mental and physical well-being.

client pressure: 84 percent can work from home at least sometimes. however, only 44 percent say the firm has their back with difficult clients.

by seth fineberg
accountants forward

crabtree

this may seem mysterious, but when it comes to ensuring job satisfaction and retaining staff, firm leaders should pay closer attention to middle management/mid-career staff and their connection to employees and the work itself, according to a survey conducted by tri-merit group co-founder randy crabtree, hb publishing & marketing company founder hank berkowitz, and myself at accountants forward.

more staffing here | more surveys and research here | more seth fineberg here

“everything about putting your people first leads to increasing the satisfaction of those who work in the profession,” says crabtree. “things like firms having your back, supporting their growth or getting to know who the people you work with are matters greatly.” he added, “when you have a good variety of work to do and find you enjoy that work, you won’t mind working the extra hours at times either.”

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outlook & analysis

the power of community in accounting

nine businesspeople talking at conference social hour

when you can’t figure it out on your own.

by seth fineberg
at large

accounting may have long been considered a community of professionals, yet not many have felt the true sense of what that means or have bothered to take advantage of it. moreover, there’s been no greater need to recognize and utilize community in accounting than now.

more: does firm culture still matter? | accounting needs a ‘rethink’ not a ‘rebrand’ | big change comes with deep reflection | 3 ways to raise the bar for your business | make it ‘productive season’
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as the profession moves its way through yet another point of inflection, one not likely seen for decades, the list of factors impacting how accountants work and why they do what they do is growing:

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innovation & change management

does firm culture still matter?

a well-defined firm culture is key to building an irresistible employer brand.

by seth fineberg
at large

who you are and what you stand for as a firm can mean many things, but if you aren’t explicit about what you are about, you may as well say nothing.

more: seth fineberg

i know this is a bold statement, but over the years, i’ve heard the term “firm culture” tossed around so freely that i daresay, when pressed, that firm leaders will be challenged to have a legitimate answer when asked what it actually is.
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innovation & change management

accounting needs a ‘rethink’ not a ‘rebrand’

two women talking while seated at a table

your value is in the knowledge you have and the relationships and trust you’ve built.

by seth fineberg
at large

the field of accounting, and being an accountant, is challenged on many sides – none more so than the very act of being an accountant. in short, given the demand for new services and the growth in automation for nearly all “tasks,” what does accounting or being an accountant mean anymore?

more: big change comes with deep reflection | three ways to raise the bar for your business | randy crabtree: stress management for overworked accountants | tax chat: eric green reveals the tax rep guide to tax season  | it’s time to do the uncomfortable  | three ways to improve next tax season  | meet basis, the new ai bookkeeper on the block | is this when accountants start taking freshbooks seriously?
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

 

let’s be clear: accounting’s literal and metaphorical face is, and needs to be, changing if it is to grow and thrive. this, however, isn’t necessarily a bad thing. but, as we well know, change is not easy or quick. what should encourage accounting professionals is that at this very moment in time, they have the ability to have a say in what accounting, and being an accountant, actually is and could be.
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featured video

geni whitehouse: conquer client communication chaos

subscribe to 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 podcasts anywhere: apple, google, spotify, iheart, deezer, amazon music and audible, player fm, audacy, gaana (india), and boomplay (africa).


with seth fineberg
卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 research

geni whitehouse, cpa.citp, the “countess of communication” for brotemarkle, davis & co., llp (bdco), says you must meet your clients where they are and understand their personalities to better communicate with them.

doing so, she says, will provide the ultimate value for your clients.

more whitehouse: geni whitehouse: unlock your accountant super powers

in this episode of tax chat, whitehouse discusses strategies for improving client communication and efficiency in tax preparation, emphasizing the importance of productivity tools, workflows, and shared files. whitehouse highlights the need to tailor communication methods to meet client preferences and leverage new tools and technologies to provide interactive and insightful financial information. she also explores the crucial role of communication in tax consulting and accounting, emphasizing the need for empathy, understanding, and adaptability in addressing clients’ needs.

6 more takeaways:

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leadership

big change comes with deep reflection

chalkboard saying indicating that time to change is now

are you ready to redefine the accounting profession?

by seth fineberg
at large

what can be accomplished in a year for any individual or organization is amazing. in this case, i’d like to draw attention to the efforts and, for some, the existence of the accounting alchemy network.

more seth fineberg at large: 3 ways to raise the bar for your business | randy crabtree: stress management for overworked accountants | make it ‘productive season’ | it’s time to do the uncomfortable | three ways to improve next tax season | jeremy sulzmann: can intuit mend fences with accountants at qb connect? | meet basis, the new ai bookkeeper on the block | is this when accountants start taking freshbooks seriously? | you’re doing email wrong | careful… you may be advising!
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

 

in march of 2022, ingrid edstrom, alina nikishina and mathew heggem helped put aan into the world to build a network of like-minded individuals dedicated to seeing accounting’s higher purpose come to fruition. i wanted to take some time in this post to familiarize you with what aan accomplished over the past year and peek into where it’s headed.

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management

3 ways to raise the bar for your business

stop allowing your business bar to maintain the status quo – or worse, lower.

by seth fineberg
at large

as most accountants prepare to shake off the effects of yet another tax season, the question remains: what will take you and your firm to the next level?

more fineberg: make it ‘productive season’ | it’s time to do the uncomfortable | jeremy sulzmann: can intuit mend fences with accountants at qb connect? | meet basis, the new ai bookkeeper on the block | is this when accountants start taking freshbooks seriously? |you’re doing email wrong | careful … you may be advising! | when live events fail | getting real: accounting tech decisions you need to make today | accounting tech doesn’t have to be daunting |who’s in control? you? or your clients?

goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

perhaps you’re not thinking about what’s next for your business, but you kind of should. if you’re frustrated with aspects of your business, you need to take a good, hard look at what is making it that way and ask yourself, “what is going to raise the bar?” staying the same is easy, but it gets harder as you look around you and see other practices making core changes to improve life-work balance and revenue and remove blockers through technology, service, or client mix.

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featured video

randy crabtree: stress management for overworked accountants

tax chat ’24: how to pause and recharge when you hit the wall in tax season.


subscribe to 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 podcasts anywhere: apple, google, spotify, iheart, deezer, amazon music and audible, player fm, audacy, gaana (india), and boomplay (africa).

with seth fineberg
for 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间

randy crabtree, perhaps best known as the host of the unique cpa podcast, tells seth fineberg in this episode of tax chat ’24 that tax practitioners can avoid tax-season burnout with just a few simple shifts in their workflows.

more crabtree: follow these 3 rules to keep employees happy

more takeaways:

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management

make it ‘productive season’

don’t be busy. be productive.

by seth fineberg
at large

at this time of year, most accountants are considered to be mired in an annual waterboarding-like ritual known as “busy season.” while the moniker has long stirred ire, one way to rally against its implication is to take a good look at what being “busy” means. moreover, why not make it more productive?

more fineberg: it’s time to do the uncomfortable | jeremy sulzmann: can intuit mend fences with accountants at qb connect? | meet basis, the new ai bookkeeper on the block | is this when accountants start taking freshbooks seriously? |you’re doing email wrong | careful … you may be advising! | when live events fail | getting real: accounting tech decisions you need to make today | accounting tech doesn’t have to be daunting |who’s in control? you? or your clients?

goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

perspective is everything. and while i’ve noticed more accounting professionals making concerted efforts to have more of a life/work balance, it is apparent that much of the work that contributes to being “busy” could evolve into productivity.

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management

it’s time to do the uncomfortable

change can be difficult, but it can also be the key to success.

by seth fineberg
at large

yes, it’s that time of year again when proclamations of change are made, and everyone professes to be resolute in their goals.

the fact is that most of these statements don’t happen, despite all the best intentions, but let me give you one prescription for the new year. hopefully, beyond if accountants and the profession have any hope or goal of change, you need to do the uncomfortable.

more fineberg: jeremy sulzmann: can intuit mend fences with accountants at qb connect? | meet basis, the new ai bookkeeper on the block | is this when accountants start taking freshbooks seriously? | you’re doing email wrong  |  careful… you may be advising! | when live events fail | getting real: accounting tech decisions you need to make today | accounting tech doesn’t have to be daunting | who’s in control? you? or your clients? |  time management rule #1 for accountants |  plan to go ‘live’ post tax season |  why vc is a bigger threat than ai  |   what does taking control of your firm mean? | accountants need each other more than ever | marchternity: just say ‘no’ | some thoughts on in-person events | so you think you know accountants? | what bogs down accountants

goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

what does it mean to “do the uncomfortable”? it can include nearly anything outside of one’s comfort zone, ranging from not responding to every client call or email to working comparatively fewer hours using new technology to increase efficiency. it could even mean posting entry-level positions at a higher pay (you are raising fees anyway, yes?). and maybe, just maybe, embrace more diverse staffing practices.

change, in and of itself, is uncomfortable and not for everyone. it also doesn’t have to be anything major. these are incremental steps to improve your life and the life of your firm.

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pro member exclusive

three ways to improve next tax season


you’ve survived 2023. here are some key lessons.

by seth fineberg
at large

in accounting, you know that tax season doesn’t end in april, as it often extends well into october. so, now that another season has come and gone and you’ve endured all the things you swore you’d never do again this year, what will be different in 2024 and beyond?

more fineberg: jeremy sulzmann: can intuit mend fences with accountants at qb connect? | meet basis, the new ai bookkeeper on the block | is this when accountants start taking freshbooks seriously? | you’re doing email wrong  |  careful… you may be advising! | when live events fail | getting real: accounting tech decisions you need to make today | accounting tech doesn’t have to be daunting | who’s in control? you? or your clients? |  time management rule #1 for accountants |  plan to go ‘live’ post tax season |  why vc is a bigger threat than ai  |   what does taking control of your firm mean? | accountants need each other more than ever | marchternity: just say ‘no’ | some thoughts on in-person events | so you think you know accountants? | what bogs down accountants

goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

every year, i speak to tax pros and accountants with tax work at their practice’s core. i listen, i read what they share on social media, and it always seems to be the same. they swear they’ll get rid of clients who regularly extend into october. still, they must hound those to the irs deadline. they rail against the irs and lack of guidance, or the hours spent on the phone trying to get answers or to resolve an issue for their clients. they exclaim, “this is the last year i’m going to…” and yet, little to nothing of significance changes. with more accountants getting increasingly frustrated with their careers and fewer coming into the profession, it is up to you to say what will change.

so, again, i ask you all, what do you need to change to make it more enjoyable, bearable and even productive for yourself?

here are a few suggestions based on my observations. take them for what you will.

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